The Chicago Bears had hoped that by placing the transition tag on cornerback Kyle Fuller, they would have more time to discuss a potential long-term deal. However, that process was sped up after the Green Bay Packers placed an offer sheet for Fuller's services.
As a result, the Bears had five days to match the offer or let the promising, young cornerback walk. Apparently, they only needed a few hours after to decide whether or not to go through with the deal.
According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, Chicago has matched Green Bay's offer of a four-year, $56 million deal for Fuller:
The Bears are matching the Packers’ offer sheet for CB Kyle Fuller, sources said. Fuller stays. It’s a 4-year deal worth $56M. The key number is $18M guaranteed. Fuller already had $13M guaranteed from the translation tag. For $5M more guaranteed, they get him long-term
It was presumed all along that the Bears would front up the money to keep Fuller. That said, the prospect of letting one of their best young talents go to an NFC North Division rival was too much to bear for Chicago. Furthermore, the slight increase in the guaranteed money Kyle Fuller was originally slated to receive under the transition tag could actually benefit the Bears in the long run.
Meanwhile, the Packers are left scrambling for other potential options to help fill their glaring voids in the secondary — particularly at cornerback. As a result, Green Bay will have to sift through the remaining players in free agency or hope they could potentially find a gem in the 2018 NFL Draft.
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